Dental unit



; June 20, 1944. M. EBBERS- ETAL 2,351,943

DENTAL UNIT Filed March 23, 1959 s Sheets-Sheet 1 5 a 4 c L June 20, 1944'. B 's 5 AL 2,351,943

DENTALLUNII' s Sheets- Sheet 2 fig 2 brew/0A5.-

June 20, 1944. M. E'BBERs EI'AL 2,351,943

I DENTAL UNIT Filed March 23, 1959 5 She ts-sheet 3 9a. 7 v 53 2a 33.

g I v fig"; havemrs:

, June 20, 1944. M, BBERs ET'AL DENTAL UNIT Filed March 25, 1939 5- Sheets-Sheet 4 June 20, 1944. M, EBB R HAL, 2,351,943

DENTAL UNIT Filed March 23, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Hg. 5 bye/arms.-

Patented June 20, 1944 DENTAL UNIT 7 Meinolf Ebbers, N ordhorn, Grafschafti-Bentheim;

and Adolf Helbig, and Han s-'lVI ewes, -Berli 1 r-,, Germany; vested in the Alien PropertyCustodian Applicati'onll/Iarch 23, 193-9; Serial-No; 263 ,646 I 111' Germany March 19,- 1937 v '5 Claims; (C i This invention relates to furniture more particularly-for dentists.

Heretofore all electrical instrumentacthose used for endoscopy, cauteri'zing, diathermy, etc for example, and pneumatic instruments; have been carried by a suitably shaped arm or standard adjacent the chair in which the'patient sits, while other instruments and articles needed by the dentist have been kept in 'd'rawersor other' suit able receptacles provided in a separate cabinet which; owing to th e'restricte'd'space. available about the chair in which the patient sits; must be kept at a distance frorntthe operator who is thus constrained constantly to change his posi-'- tion in order to reach the instruments on said standard on the one hand and those in said cabinet on the other hand. Thisv is a serious detriment since the work of the operator'i's thus slowed up and rendered more onerous;

The present invention has for its object among other things to meet this difficulty by judiciously combining an arm or standard provided with a head carrying certain instruments, those above referred to, for example, with a cabinet or the like carrying other instruments that may be needed and mounted in a predetermined position inirelation to said head, the construction and arrangement being such that all of the instruments, those carried by said standard as well'as those carried by said, cabinet,.are brought within easy reach of the. operator as he stands beside the patient in the chair.

In accordance with the invention said cabinet may be of any suitable construction, preferably cylindrical, with drawers or other receptacles, which may be of. diiferent sizes, in its wall, to contain instruments, said cabinet being movable to bring said difierent drawers within easy reach of the operator. To this end said cabinet will preferably be rotatably mounted upon a suitable support or bed-plate which also rigidly supports an'arm or standard the free end of' which is curved to causethe' head of said standard to project outwardly so as to bring the instruments carried by said head within easy reach of the operator as he stands by the chair. Said support or bed-plate will preferably be 'mount'edupo'n wheels or other suitable means to enable said cabinet and standard supported thereby to be easily'moved as a unit to convenient position-near the operator. By this construction 'said bedplate and standard while movable bodily with said cabinet are not rotatable with the latter: The top or cover of said cabinet will; preferably be independent of the cylindrical wall of the latter and rigidly supported by-said supportso as not to'rotate with said-cabinet; Said cover may thus serve-to receive any instruments or other articles the operator: may Wish to deposit thereon. Said support or bed-plate may; also carry the means fhr' supplying current to said electrical instruments and compressed air to said pneumatic-instruments. Regulatingmeans forsaid current and compressed air supplying means "may be, carfled-by said cover, with operating or controlling means therefor within easy reach of the operator;

It will thus be seen that place of two: quite separate pieces of; furniture, eachproviding-only a part ofthe dental instruments required inthe treatment of" the patient; the present invention pr'ovide's'a'unitary piece of furniture which can be moved into convenient position near the-operator as he' stands near the chair, and the overhan ging standard head androtary cabinet of which bri-ng all the instruments which: theoperatorihay need in treatinga-p tient-within his easy reacha's he-stands in operativeposition near the claims.

In the drawings-L l i Fig. 1 is an elevation of an' illustrativeembodie ment or the invention in'which: the standard is builtonto thepiece of furniture so that'the rotary movement or the-'cabineti sn'ot restricted.

Fig. 2' is a similar eleyation but with the standard built into thepiece of furniture. The rotary movement of the cabinet is thus limited and there is'less space-insaid cabinet fondrawers or' other receptacles fori-n'strumentsp Fig. 3- is a vertical sectioaor the cabinetand standard shown in Fig; 1, a few equipment parts being shown diagramm 'tica-lly by way of'illustratiori. V I A 1 Fig. 4 is an elevation of a, modification of-the embodiment-of the-invention shown in Fig; L'the: centralcolumn "forming a compressed. air reservoir. I

Fig. 5 is a vertical section-of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig, 4, a few equipment parts being shown diagrammatically by' 'Way' of illustration. I V

- Fig. '6?i 's*aside view-showing, upon an enlarged scale; rod 1 2 and its latches; with means for rotating said-rod;- Y

Fig. '7 is a view, upon an enlarged scale, of plate I2a, rod I2 and bearing II, seen from the right of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view, upon an enlarged scale, of plate I2a, rod I2 and hearing I I;

Figs. 9 and 10 are longitudinal sections, on an enlarged scale, of portions of rod I2 containing latches 54, and showing the'latter in their extreme positions, respectively.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, a

cabinet is shown at I provided with a plurality of drawers 2 or other suitable receptacles f dif ferent sizes for instruments and having comrotated to bring said latches 54 into vertical alignment with a recess 6| provided in said plate I2 (see Fig. 8), thus allowing said bearing and bined therewith an instrument standard 3. Elec.

trical and pneumatic instrumentsareremovably mounted in sockets in the head ofsaidstandard 3, which will preferably overhang the top of said cabinet I to bring said instruments within easy reach of the operator standing near the chair and cabinet. Herein only three such instruments are shown, namely an instrument 4 for tooth examination ordrilling, a diathermic needle 5 and acompressed air nozzle 6. Each of said instruments is secured to one end of a cable, the other end of which is fixed within said standard,- thearrangement being such that the instrument can be drawn out of its socket sufliciently to be used upon the patient and when released will automatically return to its socket. Thearrangement being similar-for all of said instruments,

only that of one has been shown and will be described. Referring to Figs. 3 and 5, thecompressed air nozzle Sis secured to one end of a hollow, flexible and airtight cable I which passes over a fixed roll 8 a loose roll 9 and a fixed stud 9a within said standard and has its other end secured to the end of a compressed air supply pipe I0. Said roll}! is rotatably mounted in a bearing II, slidably guided upon a rod I2 fixed at both ends in the wall of said standard. A plate I2aiscarried by said bearing II and is provided with an-opening having a sliding fit about said rod I2. When the operator draws out said instrument 6, said bearing II will be drawn upwardly along said rod I2, and when the tension on said instrument ceases the weight ofsaid bearing and roll 9 will return said instrument to its socket in the head of said standard. To relieve the operator from the strain exerted by the weight of said loose roll 9 and its bearing I I, means are provided to lock said cable against return movement when drawn out. In the present embodiment of the invention (see Figs. 6 to 10) said meansconveniently comprises latches 54 pivoted at 55 within recesses 56 suitably spaced along said rod I2. Springs 51 secured at one end to fixed studs 58 and at their otherv ends to eyes 59 provided in said latches. normally maintain the latter with their noses projecting frornsaid recesses 56, as shown in Fig. 9. When said bearing and said plate I2a are drawn upwardly along said rod I2, said plate, on meeting said noses 60, will swing said latches about their pivots into the position shown in Fig. 10, but as soon as a latch is passed by said plate the latch thus passed is swung about its pivot into its normal position shown in Fig. 9, by its spring 5], to cause its nose again to project from said rod, thus preventing said bearing from sliding back, and relieving the instrument beingused by the operator from any strain due to the weight of said bearing and parts carried thereby. To permit return of said instrument to normal position in its socket when desired, said rod I2is rotatably mounted in bearings I3 in said standard and its lower endis roll 9 to descend .when said instrument is released, to return said instrument to its socket.

Said standard 3 is rigidly secured at its lower extremity to said support or bed-plate 22, or may be integral therewith. Wheels 52 support the entire structure.

A vertical hollow shaft 24 has its lower end rigidly fixed in a socket 25 upon the center of said bed-plate. Near its upper end said shaft carries the socket 26 of a thrust ball bearing, the cap of which is carried by said cabinet. At

, its lower end'near its periphery said cabinet carries rollers '21 which rest upon said bed-plate near its outer edge. A cover 28 for said cabinet will preferably be rigidly connected at its center to the upper end of said shaft 24. While said cabinet is thus rotatable, said cover and said standard are stationary in respect to said cabinet- "Said cover can thus be used for the deposit of instruments or other articles used by the operator. By rotation of said cabinet all the instruments contained in the drawers or receptacles thereof can be brought within easy reach of the operator. A ring 29 or other suitable means may be carried by said cabinet to enable it to be rotated by foot. A sterilizer 53 may be provided on said cover.

Operating means for the instruments are provided, said operating means herein illustratively comprising a transformer 30 to supply current to the electrical instruments and a compressor 3I driven by a motor 32 to supply compressed air to a saidcompressed air nozzle, are mounted upon said bed-plate, said transformer and motor being supplied'with electrical energy from any suitable sourcenot shown. Regulating means, such as resistances for example, are provided for said electrical instruments, only one of said resistances being shown at 33in Fig. 3 so as not unnecessarily to encumber the drawing since all are similar. Suitable flexible leads connect said resistances with their respective instruments carried by said standard. These leads may be of any conventional type, and as they form no part of the. present invention they are not shown in order to avoid unnecessarily encumbering the drawings.

Suitable controls for said regulating means, more specifically said resistances, are provided upon said cover 28, said controlsherein comprising rotary knobs 34, 35'and 36 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 4).. A suitable'conductor 31 connects said re sistance' with said transformer. The compressor is connected to the hollow air-tight cable I, as already stated, by the pipe ID. The drawers 2 in said cabinet will preferably be mounted upon hinges soas to be easily opened and closed with the back of the hand. They will preferably be of triangular shape to use the space in said cylindrical cabinet to the best advantage- Other utensils suchas a sprayer 38 and an atomizer 139 with a heating chamber 40 therefor may be provided upon said cover, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Compressed air may be supplied to said sprayer and to said atomizer from said compressor 3| through a suitable pipe (not shown).

Figs. 4 and 5 show a modification in which shaft 24 is replaced by a compressed air reservoir 4i rigidly secured upon said bed-plate 22 and rigidly supporting a head 42 closed at its top by said cabinet cover 28. Said reservoir is provided near its top with a reduced portion 43 between which and parts 44 secured to the inner Wall of said cabinet, is suitably mounted a ballthrust bearing 45 for rotation of said cabinet about said reservoir. Said reduced portion communicates with a branch tube, one branch 46 of which is connected by a pipe 41 with the hollow, flexible air-tight cable 1 of the compressed air nozzle 6. The other branch 48 of said branch tube is connected by a pipe 49 with the compressed air devices upon the cover plate 28, such as sprayer 38, atomizer 39 and the like. Said reservoir 4| communicates at 50 with a pipe 5| leading from said compressor 3 I.

Connection of the transformer with the regulating means, such as resistances similar to re sistance 33 but not shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is made by leads 54a leading through said reservoir 4|. Air-tight closures of any suitable conventional construction will be provided for said conductors where they pass through the walls of said reservoir.

Said transformer and motor will be supplied with energy from any suitable source (not shown) We are aware that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and we therefore desire that the present embodiments of the invention be considered in allrespects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the present invention.

We claim:

1. A piece of furniture, more particularly for dentists, comprising in combination, a standard having a head in which is mounted a pneumatic instrument; a support upon which said standard is mounted; a reservoir for compressed air to operate said instrument, said reservoir being carried by said support; and a rotary cabinet mounted for rotation about said reservoir.

' 2. A dental unit comprising in combination, a bed-plate mounted on rollers which rest on a fioor, a cabinet rotatably mounted above the bed-plate, receptacles for instruments provided in said cabinet about its axis of rotation and accessible through its outer wall. a cover for said cabinet fixedly mounted from the bed-plate, a standard mounted at its base upon said bed-plate and extending upwardly along said cabinet, said standard being non-rotatable as to said cabinet and having its head overhanging the cover, said head adapted to carry dental tools, connections from power sources within the cabinet through the standard to its head, and said standard and said cabinet being positioned in relation to each other to render the instruments carried by said head and said cabinet movable to a place accessible to the dentist for performing a series of operations using a multiple of tools without leaving his patient.

3. A dental unit comprising in combination, an instrument cabinet, a tubular support concentric with said cabinet and upon which said cabinet is rotatably mounted, receptacles for instruments provided in said cabinet about its axis of rotation and accessible through its outer wall, a cover for said cabinet fixed on said support independent of the cabinet, a standard rigidly supported at its base upon said support and extending upwardly along said cabinet and terminating in an overhang above the cover to carry one set of instruments, an additional set of instruments carried by the cover, a source of power in the cabinet, a connection between the source of power in the cabinet extending through said tubular support to at least one cover carried instrument, the whole forming a unitary, compact structure so positioned as to render both sets of instruments and the receptacle contained instruments accessible to a dentist for his use of any one tool or any combination thereof without leaving his patient.

4. A piece of furniture, more particularly for dentists, comprising in combination, a cabinet, a support upon which said cabinet is rotatably mounted, a standard rigidly supported upon said support and provided with a head to carry at least one instrument, a cover for said cabinet fixedly mounted from said support, at least one additional instrument carried by the cover, operating means for said instruments comprising power developing means in said cabinet with connections through the standard and cabinet respectively therefrom to said instruments, and control means for the operating means mounted on said cover, said instruments and control means all accessible by a dentist from one operating station.

5. A dental unit comprising in combination, a support, a rotatable cabinet, receptacles for instruments provided in said cabinet about its axis of rotation and accessible through its outer wall, a cover for said cabinet, a standard mounted on said support and extending upwardly to terminate in an instrument carrying overhang above the cover, wheel means mounted on the support whereby said cabinet and standard may be shifted from place to place as a unit, and foot operable means carried by the cabinet for rotating the latter whereby any cabinet receptacle may be shifted into a position in relationship to the standard carried instruments that the chosen receptacle and any standard carried instrument are available from the dentists operation station.

MEINOLF EBBERS. ADOLF HELBIG. HANS MEWES, 

